Formation of tropical revolving storms

Question 1

What are TRSs?

Answer 1

Huge spinning storms with strong winds and torrential rain

Question 2

Why do TRSs develop over warm water?

Answer 2

As warms, moist air rises and condenses, it releases energy that increases wind speed

Question 3

What are the conditions needed for a TRS to form? 4

Answer 3

Disturbance near the sea-surface that triggers the storm, e.g. area of low pressure
Warm sea water (above 26.5°C to at least 50m below the surface), so lots of water will evaporate
Convergence of air in lower atmosphere, either within ITCZ or along boundary between warm and cold air masses. Forces warm air to rise
A location of at least 5° from the Equator. They don’t form 0-5° either side of the Equator because the Coriolis effect isn’t strong enough to make them spin

Question 4

Why do TRSs form in the tropics?

Answer 4

The water there is warm enough

Question 5

Where do TRSs occur?

Answer 5

Caribbean Sea (called hurricanes)
Bay of Bengal (called cyclones)
China Sea (called typhoons)
Northern Australia (called willy-willies

Question 6

Where do tropical storms lose strength?

Answer 6

When they move over land as their supply of warm, moist air is cut off

Question 7

Why did TRSs initially move westwards?

Answer 7

Due to the easterly winds in the tropics, e.g. trade winds move cyclones west across the Atlantic Ocean

Question 8

Why do they move away from the Equator?

Answer 8

Due to the coriolis effect